By-laws of the Transylvania University Transylvania University. 400dpi TIFF G4 page images University of Kentucky, Electronic Information Access & Management Center Lexington, Kentucky 2002 b92-175-30417813 Electronic reproduction. 2002. (Beyond the shelf, serving historic Kentuckiana through virtual access (IMLS LG-03-02-0012-02) ; These pages may be freely searched and displayed. Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically. By-laws of the Transylvania University Transylvania University. Printed by Worsley & Smith, Lexington, Ky. : 1818. 21 p. ; 20 cm. Coleman Microfilm. Atlanta, Ga. : SOLINET, 1994. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm. (SOLINET/ASERL Cooperative Microfilming Project (NEH PS-20317) ; SOL MN04274.06 KUK) Printing Master B92-175. IMLS This electronic text file was created by Optical Character Recognition (OCR). No corrections have been made to the OCR-ed text and no editing has been done to the content of the original document. Encoding has been done through an automated process using the recommendations for Level 1 of the TEI in Libraries Guidelines. Digital page images are linked to the text file. Transylvania University By-laws. Universities and colleges Kentucky. BY-LAWS OF THE TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY. LEXINGTON, K. PRINTED BY WORSLEY Smom, ............. 1818. This page in the original text is blank. BY-LAWS, 6C. Rules and Regulations for the government of the Board of Trustees and their Officers. CHAPTER I. THERE shall be one annual stated meeting of the Board on the Monday preceding commencement, at which all elections of Professors andi Tnstrncters shall take place; and two other meetings annually; one on the first Monday in April, and the other on the first Monday in October. The Board shall likewise be convened whenever the Chairman or any three mem- bers of it shall direct in writing. When such extraor- dinary meeting is ordered, due notice thereof shall be given in one of the gazettes published in Lexington, and by the Clerk personally to such members as may be convenient. 2. A. Chairman of the Board shall be from time to time, appointed. 3. The Rules and Regulations of the House of Re- presentatives of Kentucky, so far as the same are ap- plicable, shall govern the Board in its deliberative proceedings. 4. The Trustees are to attend at commencement, and if practicable on (lays of public examination and exhibition. E ] CHAP. II. At each April meeting of the board, the following Committees shall be appointed :-A committee of three to inspect the buildings and other property of the Uni- versity, and to cause all necessary repairs to be made: A committee of three to superintend the collection of debts, to arrange and adjust the expenses of the refec- tory, and to examine the accounts of the treasurer, and to report at each stated meeting of the board: and a committee of three to inspect the library and philoso- phical apparatus, and to examine the accounts of the li- brarian, and to report at each stated meeting of the board. CHAP. III. A Clerk shall be appointed during the pleasure of the board. He shall keep a record of the proceedings of the board; and for this purpose shall give his at- tendance. He shall also record all the contracts, leases and deeds which have been made and not already re- corded, or which shall be made in future. He shall carefully preserve the books and papers of the board. He shall also keep an account of all receipts and dis- bursements, and quarterly compare it with the accounts of the treasurer. He is to receive such compensation as the board may fix. CHAP. IV. i. A Treasurer shall be annually appointed at the April meeting of the board. 2. An account shall be raised by the Treasurer of .aoah species of fund and expenditure; and also a ge L 5 ] neral account of receipts and expenditures, which lie shall compare quarterly with the account of the clerk, and report to the committee of accounts. 3. The treasurer shall pay no monies unless author. ized by a warrant drawn bly the chairman of the board and attested by the clerk. 4. The treasurer shall deposite in one of the banks in Lexington, all the monies which he shall from, time to time receive. And the chairman of the board shall be authorised to draw, in favor of the treasurer, from time to time, for all dividends arising upon stock belonging to the University, his order being attested by the clerk. CHAP. V. i. All monies arising from the sales of laud shall be vested in such monied stock of the United States or banking institutions, as the board of Trustees may order, seven trustees concurring therein. The prin- cipal stock belonging to the University shall not be disposed of without the concurrence of a like number of the trustees, the dividends arising therefrom, and the interest upon debts due for the sale of lands, being, alone applicable to current expenses. 2. The present seal of the University shall continue to be used until changed by order of the board. 3. Each member not attending without reasonable excuse, at a stated or at an extraordinary meeting, of which he shall have notice, shall pay a fine of two dol- lars to the clerk. The disposition of the fines shall be annually determined by the board at the meeting next preceding commencement. Rules and Regulations relating to the University. CHAPTER I. Period of Study-Classes-Admission. 1. Four years are required for the regular course of study in the Transylvania University for the under graduates, Ai-ho are divided into four classes, the Fresh- men, Sophomores, Junior Sophiisters, and Senior So- phisters; a year being allotted to each of the classes, 2. To obtain admission in the Freshmen class, the applicant being examined b)y the faculty, must be found to have a guod knowledge of Latin and Greek graimimar-Virgil-the select orations of Cicero-Sal- lust-Greek Testainent-Collectanea Grwca Minora- Clark's or Marr's Introduction to the making of La- tin-translate English into Latin-understand common arithmetic-have studied ancient and modern geogra- phy. He must also possess a good moral character, and have obtained [Ie treasurers certificate of his bay- ing paid the dues to the University, required in ad- ance, or given bond according to the by-laws. 3. A student desirous of being admitted into a class in advance of the Freshmen class, may be admitted accordingly, if he shall have obtained a knowledge of all tile studies required of the class or classes wvhich he Avihites to pass over, or their equivalent, to be deter- ininel by the faculty; and lprovide(l that he pays all the fees of tuition which would have lbeen p)ayable, if Ite had entered the Freshmen class, unless he comes from another college, wallen no such fees shall be diar"'edl L 7 ] 4. As there may be persons, not acquainted with the Greek and Latin languages, who may be desirous of attending the Lectures and Recitations, the Faculty may by a vote, admit such irregular students, who are however not entitled to a diploma. They are to pay the same college charges as the class to which they may be attached. CHAP. II. Of the Faculty-the President and other Professors. 1. The Faculty consists of the President, Professors and other instructers of the University, for the time be. ing. The Faculty is charged with the immediate go- vernment and direction of the University. It is to at- tend to the enforcement of the laws and regulations which shall be prescribed, from time to time, by the trustees. The president is to preside at meetings of the Faculty, which is to decide by the greater number of votes, that of the President always being one to give validity to the decision of the majority. 2. The Faculty is to designate the books to be read and the course of study to be pursued by the classes during the period of their study. 3. It shall be the duty of the President to take charge of the University generally; to superintend the buildings, grounds, and movable property belonging to it; to report to the committee of repairs such damages as may need repair; and to report to the trustees, as occasion shall require, concerning the state of the Uni- versity, and concerning such measures as may conduce to its future prosperity. [ 8 J 4. He shall have power to visit the classes and any of the departments of the University. He shall also have power to give such directions and perform such acts generally, not inconsistent with the laws of the University, nor the ordinances of the trustees, nor the regulations of the faculty, as shall in his judgment pro- mote the interest of the institution. H. He shall preside at commencement, and on occa- sions of exhibitions and examinations. He is charged with instruction in Logic, Rhetoric, and Moral Philosophy. 6. It shall be the duty of the President, or in his ab- qence one of the professors, to perform divine service on every Sabbath, at least once, in the chapel of the University, to such officers and students as may choose to attend. And it-is particularly enjoined upon the stu- dents to attend public worship some where on the Sabbath. 7. The president shall furnish to the clerk of the board, two months previous to each annual commence- ment, a report of the names of the students who have attended the University during the session, and the length of time of their continuance. 8. The professor of Mathematics and Natural Phi- losophy is charged with instruction in those branches, and with the care of such of the philosophical apparatus as shall be assigned to his department by the president. 9. The professor of Languages is charged with in- struction in the Greek and Latin languages, and with Grecian and Roman antiquities. He is under the di- rection of the President, also charged with the gram- mar school, and is to be assisted with such tutors as the tiusiees may for this purpose appoint. CHAP. III. Deportment. 1. Avery student shall address and conduct himself towards the president, professors and instructers, and each of thetn with all possible respect. He shall ob. serve the strictest decorum while in the class, neither doing nor countenancing any thing which may tend to incommode his instructer, or divert the attention of his fellow students. 2. The exercises shall commence in the morning with prayers, to which all the students shall attend with decency and reverence. a. No student shall possess or exhibit any indecent picture, nor purchase nor read in the University any las- civ'ious or immoral books; and if any student shall be convicted thereof, or of lying, profaneness, playing at unlawful games, or other gross immoralities, he shall he punished according to the nature of the offence. 4. No student shall quarrel with, insult or abuse a fellow student, nor any other person whatever. No student shall go to a tavern nor any other public house, for the purpose of entertainment or amusement, without permission from an instructer; nor shall he associate nor keep company with persons of bad character. 6. No hallooing, loud talking, whistling or jumping, or other disturbing noise or act shall be permitted in the buildings of the University, nor disorderly conduct in the town, by a student; nor shall any student dis- turb or attempt any imposition on his fellow student in any manner whatever. E 10 ] 6. If any student offending against the laws should presume to leave the University without a certificate from the faculty, of his conduct and standing whilst there, it shall be at the discretion of the faculty, to make the name of such offender public, with the nature and degree of the offence. 7. No student shall engage or assist in any theatri- cal performance, unless permitted by the faculty. 8. The students shall treat all persons with whom they have intercourse, with decency and respect, and shall on all occasions observe the commands of the officers. CHAP. IV. Punishments. The punishments of the University are as follows. Private admonition or reprehension: admonition before the professors and instructers: admonition before the class of the offender, or in the presence of a select num- ber of persons: public admonition and reprehension in the presence of all the students: degradation in the class or to a lower class: suspension from the privile- ges of the institution: dismission from the University without expulsion: and lastly, public expulsion. Except the first and the third, which may be applied by any instructer, the application of the other punish- ments, according to the degree of the offence, shall be made by the faculty. The punishments denounced, as well as the conduct prescribed for the students, are applicable to the gram- [ 11 mar school; the students in that school are also liable to the use of the rod when indispensable in the judgment of the professor of languages. CHAP. V. Imode of Punishment. i. Complaint of misdemeanor in a student must be made, in the first instance, to the president or one of the professers, who, unless the offence be so flagrant as, in his judgment, to require the interference of the facul. ty, shall privately admonish the offender; and upon failure of success may, at his discretion, bring the sub.. ject before the faculty. 2. The punishment of public admonition, degrada- tion, suspension, dismission and expulsion shall be in- flicted only in virtue of an act of the faculty. 3. A student whom it may be necessary to bring bee- fore the faculty, shall have due notice of the time and place of its meeting, and shall be allowed to defend himself. 4. When a charge of misconduct shall be preferred against a student, the faculty shall have power to re- quire the attendance of any other student to testify a- gainst the delinquent; and it shall be the duty of such witness to disclose his knowledge of facts touching said charge, on pain of being guilty of contumacy, irs case of his refusal; provided that no student shall be com- pelled to give testimony which may condemn himself. 5. All public punishments shall be according to a written form which shall be read aloud by the presi- dent or one of the professers, and shall be entered on the records of the faculty. [ 12 J CHAP. VI. Of Instruction-Sfudy. 4. The students shall keep in their respective apart- ments, and diligently follow their studies, excepting half an hour after breakfast, and from twelve to two o'clock, and at such hour in the evening as the faculty may appoint. 2. No student shall attend the instruction of any per- son who may undertake to teach any language, science or art, in the town of Lexington, unless such teacher shall be approved, and have liberty of teaching such stu- dent, granted by the trustees; provided that the presi- dent may give permission to attend upon an instructer of merely the polite accomplishments. 3. The students shall regularly and seasonably at- tend the public and private lectures and recitations en- joined by the rules of the faculty, or from time to time announced by the president, or by any of the professors or instructers. They shall use their best diligence in preparing themselves for their several literary exercises, and shall perform them with care and precision. 4. The several instructers, as often as they deem it expedient, may require their pupils to review and re- capitulate the whole or any portion of the studies; and for better ascertaining and promoting the improvement of the studlents, they are desired, at each recitation or private lecture, to satisfy themselves respectively, as far as practicable, that each student has duly studied the lesson assigned. For this purpose they are requested to direct the attendance of one or more or of the whole section, required to perform an exercise, at other tmn the stated times. [ 13 ] 5. The Seniors and Juniors, until the second Mon- day in February, and after that, the Juniors and Sopho- mores, in alphabetical order, not less than ten each week, shall perform public exercises in speaking, un- der the superintendence of the president. Each stu- dent shall declaim alternately in English and in one of the ancient languages, unless for special reasons, one of the modern be allowed, and shall present his piece to the president sometime in the week previous to its de- livery; and immediately after give him a fair copy. Temporary absence from the University shall not ex- cuse a student from this exercise. 6. Every professor shall cause an exact roll to be kept of each class attending upon his instructions. The roll shall be punctually called over at the hour of atten- dance, and all absentees marked. An abstract of this roll, in so far as it relates to each student, shall be transmitted semi-annually to his parent or guardian. CHAP. VII. Examinations-Exhibitions--leade i c honors. 1. There shall be annually a public examination in the presence of the faculty, a committee of the trustees, and such other persons as may choose to attend, begin- ning on the first Wednesday before commencement, in the studies of the preceding year. Every member of a class shall attend punctually, and orderly, aud answer such questions as the president, or any instructer, or a- ny member of the committee of trustees, may propose. 2. The examinations are to be close and rigid, eve- ry student being left to stand or fall upon his proper [ 1 ] merits; due tenderness being at the same time shown, that the effiects of perturbation may be avoided as much as possible. 3. At the close of every examination the students shall be ranked according to their respective merits. 4. No student who may be deficient in the studies of the preceding year shall be permitted, on any account whatever, to proceed to a higher class; but shall be placed at the bottom of the class to which he shall be adjudged. 5. A student not promoted to the next higher class, may be allowed to take the lowest place therein, if, in the opinion of the faculty, during the first quarter of the next session, he shall have compensated his deficiency. 6. A student who shall be found incompetent to his studies, or negligent in them, shall be dismissed from the Uuiversity; and want of sufficient progress to enti. tle him to proceed to a higher class, after remaining two years in the preceding one, shall always be consi- dered as conclusive proof of such incompetency or negligence. 7. Honorary testimonials, of the first, second and third grades, decorated with the seal of the University, and with suitable devices, shall be adjudged at the an- nual examination, to such students as may distinguish themselves. 8. No student who shall obtain an honorary testimo- nial of the first grade twice in succession, shall be a competitor for a premium thereafter, unless he shall ap- pear to have grown negligent, in which case he shall lose the preeminence implied by his exclusions and be again put on the list of the competitors. [ 1o j g. The names of all students who shall obtain hono. rary testimonials, or possess the honor of exclusion from competition, shall be announced by the President at the public commencement; and he shall also confer those testimonials in the presence of the assembly. 10. Two weeks shall be allowed for revision previ- ous to the annual examination; and a month to the sen- ior class previous to the commencement. 11. Besides the annual examination, there shall be two exhibitions, each of them semi-annually, at such time as the faculty may announce. Those students who have most distinguished themselves shall be select- ed to perform at such exhibitions. Every performer shall lodge with the president, at least one week previous to the exhibition, a fair copy of his composition; and at such time within the week before the exhibition, as the president may fix, each of the students so selected shall rehearse their parts. CHAP. VIII. Commencement-Academnical degrees-Vacation- Absence. 4. There shall be a commencement on the second Wednesday of July, in each year, when the academi- cal degrees shall be conferred. No one shall be admit- ted to aftrst degree who has not attended upon and sa- tisfactorily performed the course of academical exer- cises; nor any one who refuses or neglects to perform the part in the Thesis, and also for commencement as- signed him by the faculty. Every one to whom a part in the Thesis has been assigned, shrll lodge in the [ 16 ] hands of the president a fair copy of his Thesis, by such time as the president may direct; and each per- former at commencement shall deliver a fair copy of his part to the president, one w6ek at least previous to com. mencement. If ar.y one make additions to what is con- tained in the copy, delivered by him to the president, or shall presume to deliver any thing in public which he has been directed to omit, he shall not be suffered to proceed, and shall be liable to lose his degree. 2. No alumnus of this University, shall obtain the degree of master of arts in less than three years after the date of his first diploma, nor unless he shall have made such literary progress, as in the judgment of the faculty, shall entitle him thereto. 3. Previous payment of all college dues, and the re- turn or replacing of all books taken by the candidate from the library, aie also required, before any degree is con ferred. 4. There shall he one vacation, from commencement, for eleven weeks. The stated exercises, after those of the morning, will not be required on the days of public exhibition ant] examination, nor on Christmas day, nor on the 4th day of July. 5. No student shall abide at the University in vaca- tion, i ithout permission, for some special reasons, from the faculty, nor in the town of Lexington, unless that be the place of his residence. All who remain in the University, or in L-xin-ton, in vacotion, shall be sub- ject to the laws eujoining orderly conduct as during the session. 6. No student shall be absent a day without leave -ranted, for some good reason, by the instructers whose [ 17 ] exercises he is required to attend; nor shall he prolong his absence beyond the granted time. If his absence exceed three months his relation to the University will Ia e, without some cause be assigned, satisfactory to .be faculty. CHAP. IX. Library. 1. A Librarian shall be appointed by the Faculty, from among the instructers or students every year. He shall arrange and number the books belonging to the li- brary, make a catalogue thereof, and have repairs, when necessary, made. 2. No person except a professor, officer or trustee, shall be admitted to the library, or to handle or use the books. 3. Those students who shall pay to the treasurer half yearly one dollar and a half, shall be entitled to the use of the books, except such as the faculty shall di- rect not to be taken out of the library. 4. The librarian is responsible for the contributions of students to whom he shall give the use of the books. He is to attend at the library, at tU o'clock on every Friday, except during vacation, to deliver and receive books, of which he shall keep an account, as well as of the condition in which the books are when taken out and returned. 5. No student shall keel) out a book longer than as follows, to wit: A folio two months; a quarto one month, and any other book two weeks. No person C r i8 I shall lent] out a book appertaining to the library. Eve- ry person receiving books shall be responsible for their safe return, and for all injuries done to them whilst in his possession. If any volume shall be lost, defaced, or otherwise injured. a sum shall be paid equivalent to the damage incurred, or the work of which the volume makes a part shall be replaced at the option of the li- brarian, subject to the right of appeal, on the part of a student, to the faculty. 6. On the first day of January, and the first day of July annually, the librarian shall render to the treasur- er an account of all students who shall have had the use of the library during the preceding six months; and shall aso pay over to him any money that he may have received, on account of the library, during the same period. CHAP. X. Refectory-Commons-Occupation of Rooms--tReward. I. The old house on the ground of the University is appropriated to a Refectory, and the residence of the Steward. And all the apartments of the new WIding which shall not be necessary for the purposes of instrue- tion, and such parts of the old as are not necessary to the refectory and steward, are appropriated as lodging rooms for the instructers and students, to be furnished, heated and lighted at their expense. 2. No student shall lodge or board out of the Uni- versity, except with his parent or guardian, without the leave of the faculty, and then at such houses as it E 19 ] shall approve. The students shall reside in the chami hers respectively assigned to them; nor shall a student suffer any one to lodge in his chamber, his parent or guardian excepted, without the permission of one of the faculty. t. -When more than one student occupies a chamber, each shall find his just proportion of furniture, fuel and candles, whether he be present or not. If any one re- fuse or neglect such contribution, it shall be charged in his bill and paid in the advance required by the by- laws, or according to the bond. 4. All who reside in the University shall constantly while in town, breakfast, dine and sup in the Commons Hall, at the hours which shall be fixed, except in case of sickness, or when invited out. If all the instructers, whose duty if present it is to ask a blessing and return thanks, should be absent at any meal, the senior under- graduate, at each table, shall ask a blessing and return thanks: And all shall take their places, on a signal to be given by the steward, and conduct themselves with decency. No one shall leave the table before thanks returned. 5. The faculty shall prescribe such other rules for the preservation of order at meals, and for enforcing due respect to the steward, as shall appear, from time to time, to be necessary. 6. The commons table shall be well supplied with plain, substantial and comfortable diet, such as is used in families in the middling circumstances in life. [ 20 ] CHAP. XI. Of charges to the University. 1. A refectory being established for the purpose of economy and good discipline, and without any view to profit, the incidental expense, comprehending boarding, lodlging, fuel, furniture of the commons hall, and sala- ry of the steward, shall be so adjusted by a committee of the trustees, from time to time, as to be equally ap- portioned among those who derive benefit from the es- tablishment. 2. To meet all charges of students living in commons, the parent or guiardlian of the student, at his option, may give bond with surety residing in Lexington, to be approved by the treasurer, to pay those charges at the stated times in the college year, as the bills are maple out and presented by the treasurer to the student, or in lieu of such bond, advance fifty dollars upon the first 'Monday in November, or on his admission; fifty dollars on the first (lay of January, and fifty dollars on the first of April, annually, to be credited in his bills. And in like manner bond anti surety are required for those students who do not live in commons, or the ad- vance, at the option of their parents and guardians, of t3 33 for those who enter the classes, and StO for those who enter the grammar school, on the first Mon- (lay of November, upon their admission respectively, and the same sums on the first day of January, and the first (lay of April, annually. The stated times for the payment of the college dues are the beginning of the term, the firs-t of Januiary, and the first of April. If a student shall be admitted beyond one mouth after [ 2t ] the commencement of a term, he shall be entitled to a proportionate abatement. 3. The, tuition fees shall be in the grammar school thirty dollars, and in the classes forty dollars, the col- lege year. 4. The steward shall be appointed by the trustees, and shall receive such salary as may be agreed upon. a. Each person in commons shall be responsible for breakage and injury done by him to the furniture of the commons ball. 6. If any damage shall be wantonly done by any student to the buildings, philosophical apparatus, or other property of the University, be shall pay dou. ble the expense of repairs, to be assessed by the fa- culty. THE END.